A Clermont man was arrested for DUI after being found asleep behind the wheel on the highway with a pistol in his hoodie pocket.
An officer responded to a disabled truck at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and Hammock Ride Road around 3:34 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer met with another officer already on scene who stated the driver, later identified as 45-year-old Jermaine Hutchinson, was asleep at the wheel with the truck in park. The vehicle, which was registered to Hutchinson, had slowly rolled into the intersection and stopped in the middle of it, the report said.
When the officer approached the vehicle, he saw Hutchinson waking up and seemingly confused about his surroundings. The truck was still in drive when the officer spoke to him. Hutchinson rolled down his window and asked why police were around him, during which the officer could smell an odor of alcoholic drinks coming from him, the report said.
The officer asked Hutchinson if he knew what city he was in, to which he stated “Ovideo.” When asked why he was asleep at the wheel, he responded he was coming home from Orlando. He then handed over his driver’s license which confirmed he was the registered owner of the vehicle, the report said.
Hutchinson continued to seem confused and did not follow directions from officers. He admitted to having a weapon when asked but did not say where it was. The officer next opened the driver-side door and asked him to get out, the report said.
As Hutchinson did so, he paused and stood on the footstep of the truck. He then placed both hands behind his lower back. From there, officers grabbed both of his hands in suspicion that he had a weapon in the back of his waistband. They patted him down and found a Smith & Wesson pistol in his front hoodie pocket, the report said.
The officers removed the pistol and placed Hutchinson in double-locked handcuffs. While escorting him to a patrol vehicle, one of the officers continued to smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage when Hutchinson spoke. He also noticed he had glossy bloodshot eyes, the report said.
Hutchinson agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises to dispel concerns that officers had about him being intoxicated, the report said. During the instruction phase, he continued to not follow instructions and started to get distracted with his surroundings. He also stated, “If you think I’m drunk, then I’m drunk, man.”
A breath test taken later resulted in 0.116 and 0.117. Hutchinson was also read his rights but did not wish to answer the officers’ questions, the report said.
Hutchinson was ultimately charged with DUI and transported to Lake County Jail. He was released after posting $1,000 bond.